The Man Who Hates Children and Old People

[Howey]

I swear...He really doesn't have a heart!

State lawmakers turned away tens of millions in federal money for health care by refusing to apply for grants, giving money back, or saying thanks, but no thanks. Among those hardest hit were low income seniors and families. A group of consumer health care advocates gathered today to put a face on those lost dollars. One was Mike Cornelius.

Cornelius said his wife suffered an incapacitating injury. The family sought help from Money Follows the Person, a transitional program launched under the Bush Administration. Cornelius said the program allowed him to continue working and keep his wife out of a nursing home, which may have otherwise bankrupted him.

He said his situation was easier than most – he has a job. He said others aren’t so lucky. With the state’s rejection of Affordable Care Act dollars, grant money that might have attracted more than $37 million in funding for the program is gone. The same goes for one that sends caregivers to the homes of expectant mothers. Caseworker Jennifer Trujillo, pregnant with twins, said the program has been a vital resource for her, since this is her first pregnancy. She said she and her husband are in a good spot, but many low income mothers would suffer without the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.

She said she’s concerned about the long term impacts of losing funding for the program.

Patrick Cannon, Advocacy Director for Florida Community Health Action Information Network, agreed, and said the same goes for many people who benefit from programs that were set to receive money from the Affordable Care Act.

State lawmakers turned down federal dollars from these programs last month, claiming that they didn’t want to take the money while litigation against the fed’s Affordable Care Act is impending. Former Florida attorney general Bill McCollum launched that suit, and his successor Pam Bondi kept it up. More than two dozen state have joined, though some of the states participating in the suit have taken federal dollars.

Really? Turning a temper tantrum into "Let's kill the kids and old folks in order to make a point?" A point that has been rendered moot by more federal judges than those state courts paid off with political favors?

[FooFa]

You didn't get the memo? White is black, down is up, vegetables are evil. You know how to tell when a politician is lying right? If there's a mic near by.

[uselesslegs]

I love the longing to implement draconian measures to sort ones house, that Scott and so many others stand behind passionately.  Just burn it all down and start over,...instead of doing repairs around an otherwise solid foundation.

The most vulnerable among us are asked to give up or drastically reduce any help, advancement or betterment they've received...for the "overall good."  That sacrifice, strangely enough, comes at their expense alone under the concept that they played little or no role as the primary resource that allowed the most wealthy to see their innovations, businesses...and by proxy...their lives...improve dramatically...thus, those vulnerable should be happy they receive anything at all.  Damn ingrates.

It's such a sad state of affairs that the few who no longer drive society, but coerce it, are afforded this continued mantle of employment leadership, that is long past any date of relevance or truth...and under that false pretense...continue to offer their exclusion to deficit solutions as necessary for our tenuous stability to be maintained.  A stability that hasn't been true for quite some time...but, the game continues.

[FooFa]

I love the longing to implement draconian measures to sort ones house, that Scott and so many others stand behind passionately.  Just burn it all down and start over,...instead of doing repairs around an otherwise solid foundation.

The most vulnerable among us are asked to give up or drastically reduce any help, advancement or betterment they've received...for the "overall good."  That sacrifice, strangely enough, comes at their expense alone under the concept that they played little or no role as the primary resource that allowed the most wealthy to see their innovations, businesses...and by proxy...their lives...improve dramatically...thus, those vulnerable should be happy they receive anything at all.  Damn ingrates.

It's such a sad state of affairs that the few who no longer drive society, but coerce it, are afforded this continued mantle of employment leadership, that is long past any date of relevance or truth...and under that false pretense...continue to offer their exclusion to deficit solutions as necessary for our tenuous stability to be maintained.  A stability that hasn't been true for quite some time...but, the game continues.

 Glass-Steagall Act

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/wallstreet/weill/demise.html

It took a well medicated village to bring us to this unfortunate time in history. I believe essentially telling Wall St that it was ok to gamble was a king pin.

[FooFa]

After 12 attempts in 25 years, Congress finally repeals Glass-Steagall, rewarding financial companies for more than 20 years and $300 million worth of lobbying efforts. Supporters hail the change as the long-overdue demise of a Depression-era relic.

On Oct. 21, with the House-Senate conference committee deadlocked after marathon negotiations, the main sticking point is partisan bickering over the bill's effect on the Community Reinvestment Act, which sets rules for lending to poor communities. Sandy Weill calls President Clinton in the evening to try to break the deadlock after Senator Phil Gramm, chairman of the Banking Committee, warned Citigroup lobbyist Roger Levy that Weill has to get White House moving on the bill or he would shut down the House-Senate conference. Serious negotiations resume, and a deal is announced at 2:45 a.m. on Oct. 22. Whether Weill made any difference in precipitating a deal is unclear.

On Oct. 22, Weill and John Reed issue a statement congratulating Congress and President Clinton, including 19 administration officials and lawmakers by name. The House and Senate approve a final version of the bill on Nov. 4, and Clinton signs it into law later that month.

Just days after the administration (including the Treasury Department) agrees to support the repeal, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, the former co-chairman of a major Wall Street investment bank, Goldman Sachs, raises eyebrows by accepting a top job at Citigroup as Weill's chief lieutenant. The previous year, Weill had called Secretary Rubin to give him advance notice of the upcoming merger announcement. When Weill told Rubin he had some important news, the secretary reportedly quipped, "You're buying the government?"